If you listen closely at night you can hear the hard desert earth and rocks crunch as the beast lazily shuffles his feet up the mountain path. This is his land and no one trespasses here. For decades he has guarded its mountainous terrain.
By looks of him, you would think him a half-wit. A small head sits on top of large grotesque fat body. His legs are the size of tree trunks and his frame stands all of ten feet high. His clumsy movements and loud roars make him easy to spot but it also gives him the advantage to cover more ground.
He is the king of all monsters. Trained in military tactics and five written languages, he is a formidable foe. His Master General Beatty was a great military leader, only leaving his duty upon finding the deformed baby, deep in the south, after the civil war. They fought many battles against Indians, bandits and thief’s.
They lived in a rare fertile valley, where the mountains bowled the oasis. After colonization and rush for gold started the movement west, they were forced to leave the valley and live in the mountains. After the valley became overran by outlaws, thieves, saloons and gambling halls, settlers started moving into the mountains.
Prospectors were soon blasting away at the rock and stone. The search for gold generated greed and power hungry men. Finally, the two stranded men were forced to fight back against the newcomers.
They brutally killed his Master for not giving up his plot of land. Dismembering his body as a testament of their power and hope it would scare the ferocious beast to no longer attack their villages.
The Beast pledged to cleanse the sins and betrayal of his fallen master, with blood and sacrifice of all who dare trespass on his land.
These mountains are now known today as Mt. Charleston and to this day the legend states, if you dare to trek the summit pass at night, only death awaits you. This beast is forever known as the Beatty Mountain Monster.
**
Tommy shut the book and looked around his class. “Any questions?” he asked. “This is just one of many folklore stories that were salvage from the early settlement days.”
“Mr. Welshcoc, how come there have been no sightings or deaths as of late?” Adrian said as she raised her hand. Tom used to the sarcastic tone and nature of his students bluntly said, “Well considering this book was written over fifty years ago and this a story passed on from generation to generation, I’m sure the beast is dead or never existed.”
The bell rang and class hustled towards the door. “Be sure to read Chapter 6 on the gold rush, there will be a quiz on Monday.” Tom yelled after the students. Half of these little bastards won’t even pass my class, he though himself.
Tommy finished putting his desk back together and prepared to leave for the weekend. A knock sounded at the classroom door.
“So are you ready for a good four day weekend in the mountains and a little bit of R and R with the ladies?” Walter said as he waltzed through the door, taking a seat in the first row of desks.
“Yes I’m ready but I am also really tired. These damn kids have made this one hell of a week.” Tom now looked down at the book sitting on top of his papers on his desk. “Do you believe this shit?” he asked, tossing the book over to Walter sitting in the front row.
Walter looked at the book and laughed. “The Beatty Mountain Monster, are you serious?” He looked back at Tommy. “Come on man these are just old folklore stories that are parents used to scare the shit out of us, make us behave!”
Walter got out of the chair and motioned to the door. “Lets get out of here and start the weekend right. We have to start early if we want to summit the mountain in two days.”
Tommy took the book from Walter and tossed it back on his desk. “Your right lets go.” They both exited the room and Tommy locked the door.
**
